Sex worker's alleged rape, robbery speaks to 'a desire to control and degrade women'

CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses an alleged sexual assault.

Allegations a truck driver sexually assaulted and robbed a sex worker after asking to meet up with her for an appointment speaks to “a desire to control and degrade women”, a magistrate has said.

Court documents allege 34-year-old Craig Michael Emberton messaged the sex worker to make a booking with her then they met up at a unit in Canberra in March 2022.

But once inside, he allegedly pulled out a knife, pointed it at her, and demanded money, so she gave him about $430 in cash.

Mr Emberton then allegedly raped her. The sex worker asked him to put on a condom; however, he allegedly took it off and continued to sexually assault her.

When he left, he allegedly took the knife, cash and condom with him.

Police raided his Calwell home on Monday (4 April) and he allegedly made admissions to them that he had contacted the sex worker and took a knife to meet up with her in order to take her money, but he denied actually pulling the knife on her, taking any money or having sex with her.

“The defendant advised police that he was having financial difficulties and was too embarrassed to ask his friends or family for support,” the court documents allege.

He was arrested and was charged with aggravated robbery and sexual assault in the third degree when he appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday (5 April), but prosecutor Sam Bargwanna said it was likely more charges would be coming.

Mr Bargwanna opposed Mr Emberton’s bail application, saying police had reason to believe he had allegedly engaged in acts of this nature before.

He said that victims of this type of offending should be encouraged to come forward without any fear of reprisal.

He also said the sex worker, in this case, was very anxious and too scared to leave her home out of fear of an attack.

Mr Emberton’s Legal Aid lawyer, Ms West, said he had no criminal history, and there had been no suggestion he had tried to intimidate or contact the complainant since the alleged incident occurred.

Magistrate Louise Taylor said the allegations described “violent and planned conduct”, and the court documents reflected a strong prosecution case, which had been strengthened by Mr Emberton’s alleged admissions to police.

The alleged offending spoke to not just monetary gain but to “a desire to control and degrade women in the process”, she said.

Bail was refused and he was remanded in custody to next appear in court on 21 April. No pleas were entered.